And I broke down

[94touring]

Headed to my shop this morning (well right now) I died.  Stopped to get gas because I was running on E and stumbling.  Got a few more miles after filling up and the car started popping through the carb. Pulled over and found the wire from thr coil was arcing. Secured the wire, arcs stopped, drove a few more miles and died for good.  Once triple A gets me to my shop I'll begin digging in to see what the problem is.

[BruceK]

Sorry to hear that.  Fried coil perhaps?

[Willie_B]

At least you look to be a safe place and the weather looks nice.

[94touring]

Weather couldn't be better!

Back at the shop.  Compression is 120, 140, 0, 140.  Is that bad?  Lol

[BruceK]

Weather couldn't be better!

Back at the shop.  Compression is 120, 140, 0, 140.  Is that bad?  Lol

Well, when you were in Texas in the Spring you mentioned it was a tired engine.   

[94touring]

Notice anything unusual here?

[BruceK]

Notice anything unusual here?

When your #3 cylinder ran away it took part of the distributor cap with it?

[MiniDave]

Supposed to be a button in there in the middle......but I doubt that will affect the compression much......

[BruceK]

Supposed to be a button in there in the middle......but I doubt that will affect the compression much......

I didn't actually mean the cylinder compression had anything at all to do with the distributor cap, because it clearly doesn't.   

I was just saying they both went AWOL.

[94touring]

I took the dizzy out, inspected it, put a button from another cap in, and the car fired right up and drives like it usually does. Probably been running on 3 cylinders since I've owned it.

Ahem Dave I need my new motor  ;D

[MiniDave]

Ahem...it's been done for months, just need to start it and run it in.....and come get it.

[94touring]

I can get it whenever.  Might shoot for the end of the month.

[MiniDave]

If you mean the 31st I'll be home, if you mean the weekend before I'll be out of town (26-30).....but that's fine with me. Remind me to send Mark's coilovers down with you......

[94touring]

Other notable problem found was on the dizzy, the vacuum diaphram if you've ever taken one apart has a rod that runs down through the dizzy body with a nut on the opposite end that's threaded. Along side this is a spring looking piece that hooks to the inner workings of the dizzy.  When you adjust the nut it retards or advances the dizzy.  Suck on the vacuum port and you note the same movement. Anyhow the rod on mine had come loose from the top part of the assembly, essentially retarding the timing significantly. Explains the backfiring through the carb.  It was easy to fix.  I found a new dizzy cap locally (see mini compatible parts thread) and I'm back on the road running 3 cylinders strong.

[BruceK]

Glad to hear your are back on the road even if your 998 engine is just a 749 engine.

I wonder if it is valves, seats, or rings or a combination of all three things that have failed on number three.  Technically, I suppose a hole in the piston could also be in the running. 

[MiniDave]

Burned valve is the usual culprit.....

[94touring]

Yeah probably a valve. It actually makes about 20psi.  We'll know soon enough once I yank it out.

[Bahowe1]

Sorry to hear of your troubles, but you seem to take it well!  I will say, the exact thing happened to me a few years back on my mini and that was the first time I realized I had been running on 3 for as long as I had owned it. Mine was burned valve and once I got 4, it was a very fun car.

[94touring]

I do have a spare head I could slap on, but not really worth the hassle since the new motor will go in soon enough. Till then it still serves as my airport car lol.